Monday, December 31, 2012

Well.. It was so good to talk to you guys on Christmas! And Chelsea, thanks sending the pictures on your blog, it was weird to see myself is the background in some of them. I'm like a giant! Anywho. I hope Christmas and everything else was great. :) Ours was really good. Way way way too much food and goodies.

This last week has been good, crazy with it being the end of the month but good. Were still trying to figure out juggling both areas, but we'll get it soon. Our mission has been suuuuuuuuuuuuper close to hitting our high water mark for the year 2012! The high is 1103 convert baptisms in the year, and I know as of yesterday we were at 1103! So we need one more to hit it! To set a new record and make Hawaii Honolulu mission history! There are suppose to be 3 more today. I know we're cutting it so close! Working on P-day! But we're going to hit it. President is soo happy! He's been calling everyone all week seeing if our with dates are going to happen and what the update is. But it's so good! Talking to President yesterday at church he was saying. "We're going to hit it! I have the faith." And then went on to say how we've done it, "With laser focus. We're all focused on the same thing, the whole mission. And that's having the eye single to the glory of God." .."Did you know that the average mission in American only has about 30 convert baptisms a month? And we're averaging about 100. What are we doing different? The prayer approach, and showing the Doctrine of Christ to our members." (Prayer approach: The approach we use while tracting, we say we are representatives of Jesus Christ and he has sent us to leave his peace and blessing, we then pray for their specific needs and then invite them to be baptized! It takes crazy courage and faith! But it works! We are able to find the elect. The ones who are prepared! If they say no, then we move along. And trust that the Lord will continue to work on them.--There are only two missions using the approach this way, fort lauderdale, flordia and hawaii. They are the two most baptizing in the Untied States. Sister Smoots brother is serving in that mission. :) ) (The district DVD. The one I wanted you guys to watch a while back.) I love President Dalton. He's so awesome and so dedicated to his calling. It's been fun seeing him around so much serving in his ward.

Kenny didn't get baptized on Saturday. :( But it's all good, everything happens in the Lord's timing. We went over and say him on Wednesday and asked him how he was doing, and he'd had a drink that day. Normally you have to be sober for 3 weeks unless the bishop approves it. So we'll for sure try for January. He's just gotta do it. He knows everything is true. He's just gotta quit completely and marry his girlfriend. But it's all on his timing.

Yesterday at church Katherine was able to stay for all 3 hours! And after gospel principles she turns to me and says, "I just feel good here. This just feels right. I know this is where I am suppose to me." Ah! It just made my heart swell and almost start crying! We just had this moment of happiness! I love that her so much. I really hope she finds more friends in the church to link on to. To keep her strong. Do you think it's a bad idea to request people toldssingles.com? Because I'm really tempted. She needs a good guy in her life to help her with Chris. Or maybe I just need to find him and baptism him. Either way, she deserves some support.

This morning I read the conference talk by President Oaks 'Protect the Children'. It's so good! And so interesting to read it and then think about the current events that have just happened. With the shooting and everything. He definitely knew what the future held. And he was preparing our hearts and minds for it. One of my professors at BYUI told us that when we read or listen to conference think, "What does he know about the future that I cannot see? How is what he saying going to prepare me?" I love General Conference.

Ahh. Life is just sooo good! I love Hawaii, I love being a missionary, and I just love everything! I feel so stinkin blessed! 2012 was soo good, but 2013 is going to be even better! Because there is always good things to come. I feel lucky too, that I get a whole year on my misison. Some sisters don't get that because of the time they report. So I'm sure you can imagine all my new years resolutions are going to be geared toward missionary work. Cause that's all I need to worry about right now. :)

I hope you guys have a fabulous week! Continue to be awesome, and the best family ever.

Loooooooooooooooooooove, S. Nielsen

P.S. Dad.. We get to stay up with our Zone tonight till 12:30am and sleep in till 8am tomorrow. Mission rules in Nielsen rules right? Remember that in 2014. ;)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Oh my heavens.. This week has been CRAZY! Soo.. Transfers: Sister Wright got transfered to Big Island and my new companion is Sister Smoot, she's from Kayville, UT and came out with Sister Wright. And we're basicaly the same person, she went to BYU-Idaho, plays the flute, and likes to sing. She's an awesome misisonary. BUT! We're now covering both her area and my area! Her ward is in a completely different stake/zone, and is over by Diamond head. Soo look at a map, Diamond Head compared to where the airport is. It's not too far of a drive if there is no traffic. But.. Hawaii has the worst traffic in the nation. And on Tuesday we got stuck for an hour trying to go from one area to another. So basically President took our companions away, and put us together to work in both areas. We have 2 zones, 2 ZL's, have to report to 2 District Leaders, and everyone's kind of fighting for our attention. I feel bad, we have to cancel half of our dinner appts and some members were not happy. I'd definitely be lying if I said I was not stressed. But everything's all good! I'm happy President trusts me with this responsibility and hopefully I'll be able to put this stress to good use and be an effective missionary.

(Side Note: Kahala ward is a very rich area, and is in the ward boundries of the mission home. So President is in our ward. It also is the only ward with a deaf group on the island.)

To add on top of the craziness we had 2 baptisms on Saturday! Chee-hoo! One in the Kahala ward, and one in Aliamanu. And so in trying to prepare for both this week we were driving everywhere like crazy! Katherine was baptized and it was probably the most chaotic baptism I've ever been too. But funny how things work out it was perfect for Katherine. Our baptism was scheduled at 9 am, and another ward had a baptism at 8am. :/ We show up to the chapel and another ward was having chapel clean up. Vacuums and people cleaning and mopping everywhere. We then realized we only had an extra large jumpsuit for katherine, and well I guess it was going to have to work. We didn't have any other options. But it fit her just fine. The service finally started and our counselor in the bishopric welcomed us all out to sacrement meeting, I don't think he realized it either. And then while the baptism talk was happening, Katherine's son Chirs, 6 years old and has severe ADHD, was freaking out and punching the back of his chair the whole time, so that's where Katherine's attention went, luckally all the families there had there wild kids too, so it was fine. After she was baptized we helped her in the bathroom and I asked her how she felt and she said, "I feel good! The water was freezing, but then after a while I just felt warm all of a sudden." I'm SO happy the spirit is able to warm up the font! And also smooth things over. She was so happy. The chaos was perfect because it didn't make her feel like her son was the only thing being disruptive. Heavenly Father knows exactly what He's doing.

We then drove over to the other side and had the baptism for Kini! She's a sweetheart, from figi and suuuuuuuuper solid! She has such a strong testimony! She's been through so much and she's ahh just awesome. The baptism went well. And we were finaly able to breath a little bit, but not for long. We have SOO much work to do. And I don't want either area to be deprived. President just told us to go where the work is, and plan effectively that our time is precious. And it really really is! I think this is the thing Heavenly Father is trying to teach me this transfer, is how to be really organized and how to plan and work under a busy busy work load and stress. I've never been very good at that, but I'm excited to hopefully be shaped and refined to become better! All is well.

One more quick experience. Last night we went caroling with a few elders, and they took us to there area in federal housing. It smelt like pot and alcohol. While we were singing silent night to this one family, I think was a recent convert. It just reminded me of the place where Jesus was born. Poor and lowly. And that if it was in our day it would be very relatable to these circustances. The spirit just came over me and it make me so so very grateful, that He knows every situation. And He came here to this world to be born and help me to return to Heavenly Father's presence. What love He has for all of us.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

This week seriously feels like a month! But yet also a day.. So weird. I'll get to that. Ok first things first. Erin, 2 DATES!? That's my girl. ;) Hahaha, I love that! Pumba would be so proud. Also.. It's Christmas already? Yikes. I don't know when I'll be calling.. But I only get 40 minutes, and we're not allowed to skype. President likes to keep things simple. Sooo I will be hearing all your lovely voices in a week! And if you don't answer.. I'll just call back later I'm sure. Mom, I've been asking about nativites, but there is never enough time on pday to find one, and I could go to target.. but.. That's really not Hawaiian. Good thing I have another Christmas here. I will find one!

Last week news!

Monday: P-Day and ice skating!

Tuesday: Sister Kimmons is back! She's getting transfered to our mission, and she stayed with us this whole week. I stinkin love her, little Texas girl. (And Erin, I cut her hair this morning. Woo!) Ooo, also President took us to lunch after we picked up Sis. Kimmons from the airport, and then that night we went to Outback for out 18 high water mark dinner! Suuuuuuuuper fun!

Wednesday: Crrrrazzzzzzziiiinnnnneeeesssss, service project for a member and then the cottage meeting- the whole Salimeda family spoke! They are SO SOLID! I love them so much.

Thursday: Alllll day week plan session. It felt so good.

Friday: T passed her baptism interview!

Saturday: T's BAPTISM!!!

Well.. T got baptized on Saturday! She has been so prepared! We didn't have any problems or concerns with her, she wanted to be baptized so bad. She told us days before that she was so excited she couldn't sleep. But she's in Halawa boundries, so that was our only concern. And also trying to baptize a lady in a wheelchair, but we got it all figured out! She sat on her shower chair. After we dressed her in her whites we had about 15 mintues to spair till the program started and she kept telling everyone, "Let's get this started! I don't have all day ya know." She didn't care who was there, she just wanted to be baptized! After she came out of the water she said so excitedly "I'm baptized!" I can't even put words to describe how she's changed my life and my whole perspective on things. She's had a hard life, and her family doesn't support or help her very much at all. Sunday morning we woke up at 5 o'clock to go to her house and help her shower and get ready for her confirmation. After washing her good hand she said "This is the first time that hand has been washed." I know Sis. Wright and I were suppose to find her, not the Elders. There is a reason and purpose for everything. Heavenly Father is well aware of T. And He's been preparing her all these years. I was just blessed enough to see everything happen.

Well.. As you all know, we got transfer calls last night. Haha I know you all want me to see the different islands, but Heavenly Father wants me to stay and take over the area. :) Sister Wright is being transfered off island, our assumption is Big Island with Sister Barnes. It's all good though. I'm serving in Hawaii, I think anywhere I'm at is a blessing. I'm not worried about taking over the area, but I am worried about keeping the fire going. Sister Wright is a baller missionary. We have 2 more with date.. Katherine for this weekend and Kenny on the 29th. I just hope I'll be able to help them stay on track, that they wont fall through. And also once we baptize these two our teaching pool is gone! We baptized everyone! I know that not a big problem to have, but finding the elect is work. And I don't want to loose the baptizing fire we have in this area. I know I just need to do my part, and Heavenly Father will take care of everything. But those are just my little worries. But everything will be good. I hope I've doing everything Heavenly Father wants me to do in this area. And that I am becoming the person He wants me to become.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

This week has gone by SOOO fast! But at the same time I feel like a month has passed! I am soo exhausted, but somehow Heavenly Father gives me energy to keep going.

I'm glad to hear everything is going well! Ohh. Happy Aniversary Mom and Dad! Go to the star. :) It's weird to think about back home and how it's cold there. Because the weather hasn't changed much since I got here, besides the fact that it gets a little cooler at night. But other than that.. It's the same!

At this time we have 3 investigators with date! Tiresa, Katherine, and Kenny. Tiresa (we figured out how to spell her name.) is the gal in a wheelchair that God happen to place in our paths, she's not in our ward boundries.. But we don't think the elders would be very patient with her since she's hard to understand. .. Yeah I know.. We poach. It's ok. She's getting baptized this Saturday! And she is SOO excited! We still have to figure out all the little things like.. How we're going to get her in the font, but everything will be well. She's excited and everything will work out. I'm not worried. Katherine we invited this week, and she said yes! She's a single mom, in the military and is doing everything by herself right now. She had surgery this last week and we had our relief society jump on it and help her out, I know she's was so grateful. And I hope she is able to see what the church gives and what it will bring to her life. She's awesome though, I love her. We just need to get her more solid and build her testimony. Her baptism date is for the 22nd. Kenny. AH! Kenny has been sober for 8 DAYS!! He's been drinking since he was 17 and hasn't stopped. But he's ready to quit, he got a priesthood blessing last Sunday after church and it's working! (Ofcourse.) This is the longest he's ever gone since he started! Yesterday he told us that he went to open a can of beer, and he looked at it and said it looked like puke, then he took a sip and couldn't stand it! That is was gross. AH! God is so good. He's doing so well. We just have to get him focused on the marriage part. He needs to marry Erika before he can get baptized, so that will be our next focus. He has his baptismal date for the 29th!

My eyes have been opened being a missionary. We are facing struggles in our zone, I've talked with one of our Zone Leaders and he feels the same way, that after we hit 18 everyone doesn't care anymore and have just sacked out. Nobody is focused on 20 this month. And it's so frustrating! If every companionship had 3 baptisms, we'd for sure hit it. It's so interesting to see who wants it, and who's out here to get their RM stamp. I thought all missionaries were obedient. But that's really not the case. You really get to see people true colors and testimonies here on a mission.

There is so much going on inside of my head, so much that I want to tell you and say, but I just don't know how to put it. These past couple of weeks I've been hearing and thinking so much about how our lives are way too busy, and how when we are we are in Satan's yoke, we take no time to ponder the meaningful things in life. We have no time to recieve spiritual guidance, because we are not listening to the Holy Ghost. We don't have time to. I think this is especially how people get during Christmas time, everyone is way to busy.. doing this and that, and nobody stops and recognizes the Savior, and the reason why we have Christmas. It's so sad to see, I feel like I've been running for years, school, work, school. I know when I got home my priorities and how I spend my time will be very different. It's just defined as what you take as your priority in life. And what is important to you. Good, better, and best. :)

Well I love you all! I hope you have a fabulous week and give the time to stop and enjoy the blessings God has already given us. :)

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Yep that's right.. Hon-Freakin-Best hit 18 BAPTISMS!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh! It was the craziest last week of my life! But sooo good, so many miracles. God is good. :)

We had an investigator we were kind of teaching on and off (she was really hard to get in contact with) her name was Tina, 20 yr old from American Samoa. Last month we invited her to our ward halloween dance and she had a great time! But then she disappeared for two weeks, and later we found out she was in the hospital. Earlier in the month we went and visited her, and ended up calling the Elders to come and give her a blessings. After that blessing we committed her to be baptized on November 24th and she said yes! But then low and behold.. We lost contact again.. On friday the 23rd we dropped off a Samoan book of Mormon to her, and she was so excited. She then told us that she'd got to church with her friend to the Samoan ward on our "November 11th invite a friend sunday" . That was a suprise! Sis. Wright and I both left feeling and thinking that she was so prepared. As we were driving away Sis. Wright said, "She will for sure be baptized in December.." I thought about that for a while and then said. "Why not tomorrow!?" I didn't know if I was acting on the spirit or if it was just the modivation inside of me to baptize 18 this month. Whatever it was I made some crazy phone calls for splits (that was the night of Alex Hackett's interview) and for the samoan ward elders to come and teach with us and commit her to be baptized the next day. The lesson went well, and I realized she understands so much more in Samoan than english. Everytime me or one of the other white elder tried to say something, she'd give our samoan elder a confused face. And then he'd explain things to her. We didn't commit her to baptism that night, it just didn't feel right for me when I got in there. But it was a good transfer over to the elders and the ward she would be attending. They kept working with her, she attended a baptism Saturday morning went to church on Sunday the 25th. And then recommitted her to be baptized on November 29th. She wanted to so bad, but she needed permission from her Dad. We were then praying like crazy! And he gave her the permission. Then next hurdle. Convincing the stake president to confirm her the same day. (Otherwise it counts for a Dec. Baptism.) Our Zone Leaders worked some magic and it was a go! AHH! I've never been so happy and exhausted in my life! BUT WE DID IT! 18 BAPTISMS IN NOVEMBER! It was the highest number than any other zone that month! It feels sooo good. I thought I would feel accomplished and done, but now we're all just motivated to hit 20 in december. We gotta do it! So we're still working hard and hitting the pavement.

Gosh, Bishop Lung.. What a sweetie. That was nice of him to email you guys. I'm so happy you had a great Thanksgiving! Mine is going to be one I will never forget. Mom, that's so crazy that you met Sis. Duke's mom! I just barely met Sis. Duke yesterday and she said "So our mom's met the other day in seagull book." That was weird to hear. But it was fun! I know she's a baller missionary, after being out for 6 weeks she became a mom and sister trainer. Tall, with red curly hair. :) Craziness. She came out with Sister Wright.

I seriously cannot believe it's December, it really doesn't feel like it at all. In my head it's still August when I got here, because the weather hasn't changed. But hopefully I'll still be having a "white Christmas" :) But everything is happening so fast. 4 months? What the what!? I still feel like I just barely got here!! I love Hawaii so much. It's gorgeous here. I love love love green. ( Which I don't see to much of.. Since I'm in the city. But when I do I love it!) I cannot imagine myself NOT being a missionary, I feel like I've learned so much.

We went to the temple this morning. (That's why pday was today) Oh my goodness, I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove the temple. I feels like I hadn't been in forever. But I learn something new everytime and just feel so much strength afterwards. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much. I was thinking a lot about a year from now, and being here for the Salimeda's to be sealed. Ahh, I love this. I love being a missionary.

Well.. Transfers are in two weeks, and either Sis. Wright or I will probably be leaving.. Booooo. :( I really love that girl so much, she my PERFECT trainer. And she loves the Savior so stinkin much. It's all over her face and love for this work. I will forever be changed because of her.

Lindsey is going to SAN DIEGO! Ahhh! That's AWESOME! I'm so excited for her! If you get a chance.. Tell her I love her, and that she will make and awesome missionary. :)

Well I gotta fly. But I love you all so much! OH! As for my Christmas package, clothes.. Jewelry (simple, mission approved) A cute watch, Idk.. I don't need much. Music. What ever you think is fitting. :)

Love you! Have a great week!

S. Nielsen

P.S. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY CAMERON! .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!

P.S.S. Tata since you found my blog, if you are reading this.. I love you so stinkin much! You are beautiful and you have changed my life. :)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Wow! You must have
been confused when you got the weird email from me! The internet I was on
was weird and, without me knowing, it obviously cut out and only saved some of
the note so here is sort of what I said.

It was Sister Wright's
birthday on Thanksgiving and she was so excited that the Salimeda family was
being baptized. She is such a family girl that I was worried she would
struggle not being home for her birthday. However, she is having the time
of her life in Hawaii and I fear she won't ever want to return! She is
such a blessing to us as she serves the Lord there.

Sister Wright, Teddy,
calls Sister Nielsen her baby, since she is her trainer. She has so much
love for her! She mentions her gratitude for Sister Nielsen every week in
her letters home. They are on fire together. We were in Elko in
October and, after we returned home, realized that Sister Nielsen was from
there and we could have met! We will simply have to make a short trip to Elko
when Sister Nielsen comes home. I am sure Teddy will want to visit.

Thanks, Bishop, for
taking the time to write and include the wonderful pictures. They are
precious to us. Thanks, Nielsens, for your incredible daughter that is
such a blessing to our daughter. Take care and best wishes for a
wonderful Christmas season!

To the parents of Sister Wright and Sister Nielsen, I cannot begin
to express my gratitude to you for preparing such wonderful and faithful
daughters of God. Through their efforts we were blessed with the Salimeda
family being baptized this morning. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate
Thanksgiving than to witness a family come unto Christ.

Even as I am writing this, I received a call from the Sisters informing me of
another baptismal commitment for this Saturday. We are truly blessed to have
your daughters serving in our ward.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Thanks Cody and Cameron for the emails! Looks like everyone's had a busy week. I hope you guys had a good time at grandma's house! I can tell you, my thanksgiving was the best day EVER! And hopefully pictures will speak more than what I could ever say.

Well.. The Salimeda's got BAPTIZED!!! All 4 of them! Sue, Bobby, Nathan and Tatiana. It was such a great baptism. My heart has never been so full of love and gratitude. Just watching all the them one by one enter the font. It was incredible! Our whole ward showed up, they really had taken a huge part in fellowshipping them and making them feel welcome. I seriously love this gospel! It changes people, it changes lives.. And it's changing me. I know I am not the same person I was when I left on my mission. And I hope I am going to continue to be refined, and become the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. Gosh, I can't even imagine not going on a mission and coming here to meet this wonderful family. They have accepted their Savior, and He was blessed them so much. They are so full of the spirit and keep thanking me. But I didn't do anything, yeah show up a few times, most of the time we were late, and teach them a bit. But they were prepared, and the spirit touched their hearts. Their testimonies are so small and simple. But I am so excited for next year, because they are going to the temple to be sealed as a family. That's their goal. I feel so humbled to be a part of this.

After the baptism, Sister Wright and I were soooo tired! We'd been up since 3. It felt like christmas! We had baptism eve, and Baptism morning! Plus it was Sister Wright's birthday. We opened her packages before. But as tired as we were, we knew we could not sac out. I wanted to so bad. But we are so close to hitting our high water mark as a zone, we need baptisms! We went and talked to Alex Hackett's dad, Buddy. I was so scared. And pleading with Heavenly Father to have His spirit to say the things that needed to be said and that His heart would be soften to let his son be baptized. We went on a walk with him and found some benches to sit on. Buddy expressed to us in very colorful language that he wants nothing to do with religion. It sounds like he's angry with God. But then talking about his son, he does not want it to happen. He wants him to wait until he's older and go to a lot of different churches. But somehow by the end of the conversation, he said he didn't care. It wasn't his desire, but he would support his son if that was his choice. Alex was baptized on Saturday morning. We threw a program together and he was baptized! And.. His Dad came to the baptism. He didn't want to be there. But he came! And I know that meant so much to Alex. He will one day be baptized himself, I know that. We just gotta give him some time.

Sunday was crazy! We had 5 confirmations, they gave Bella Salimeda a name and a blessing (she's 4), and then in priesthood gave Tai, Bobby, and Nathan the aaronic priesthood. It was cool though, because they ordained Tai and Bobby, and then Bobby walked over to Young Men's and ordained his son Nathan, to the same priesthood. And ohh boy does Bobby clean up nice! He shows up in a suit! I barely recognized him! This week as been the most amazing week. So many things I will never forget.

Right now as a zone we are sitting at 17 baptisms!! (Highest as a zone in our mission!) Our high water mark is 18!! We need one more miracle! I know it will happen, if we do all that we can as misisonaries to be obedient and do His will, it will happen! I have no doubt about that.

I feel so spoiled. I have been able to have 6 baptisms in my first 4 months as being a missionary! And a family for that matter! That doesn't happen a lot, that a whole family gets baptized. It just makes me think that the hard-faith building times are coming, because I really have had it oh so good! I love this work, I love my Savior, and I know that this is so important in His plan. For us all to be invited to come follow Him.

I love you all so much! I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and that everything is going well. Remember, sometimes we all need to slow down and recognize the simple things that make us truely happy. God is good.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Hey hey! It's been a crazy week, and it's flown by like crazy, I can't believe it's already monday again. And just to let you know my mail problem has been fixed! They had the wrong zip on the forwarding address, so don't be afraid to send me anything now. It will get to me. :)

Dad, that's suuuuuuuper cool story about everyone's dreams and grandpa! Thank you so much for sharing! That's crazy, I know he's busy. We need this gospel preached. And I've talked to some people, but if you look at general conference and what was said. The mission age changed. And then a month later with this election, it's now legal in some states for gay marriage, smoking pot, and abortion. Where do you think this world is leading up to? The gospel NEEDS to be preached! We NEED more missionaries! And I guess we are expecting 50 some more missionaries in January. And doubling the full pros sisters. Looks like I'll be training.. But I really think that that is why I needed to come out while I was 21, and not 19. So that I could train. That sounds weird. But I know there is a reason I'm one of the last 21 years old sisters age required sisters out on a mission. Grandpa is doing good things up there, but I know he's a very busy man right now.

Soo.. This last week I have been in a three-some! We picked up a sister who is serving in the Marshall islands mission, Kitibis side, and right now she's on Christmas Island! (It's not in this mission anymore.) She came here to Hawaii for medical. She has a pinched nerve in her two fingers are numb and in pain. And they don't have good medical care there. So she's been with us since Tuesday. Her name is Sister Kimmons and she's from Texas. So yes we can understand her. I was worried too. But it's been fun to have her around! She's real shy, but she's a good missionary. And she's downed milk and other american food like crazy! They don't have that on Kitibis. But it's good, it makes sight and sound a lot easier. :)

Sooo.. for latest update, the Salimeda family is AWESOME! And they are getting baptized on Thanksgiving morning! They wanted Elder Brinkerhoff, ( they elder who started teaching them a year ago) to batpize them. He's an AP now for we figured that would be fine, but he called us one day and told us that President said he couldn't, because it was out of zone and then he'd have to let other missionaries do the same. He was super bummed. We then had all these reasons of why it needed to be Elder Brinkerhoff (were sisters, we can't baptize. he's suppose to go to as many batisms as he can so he'll probably be there anyway. etc etc.) and call President. (We even role played before we called him) And he basically told us the same thing. But he then said, "what if I baptize them?" -"You wanna baptize them president?" "Yeah. I'll do it, give him their number and I'll call them and tell them Elder Brinkerhoff can't do it." The next day we were having dinner at our Bishops house and he invited the Salimedas, and President called Sue.. Sister Wright and I hadn't told them anything so we're freaking out when she said it was President Dalton! We were at the table and explained to Bobby what was going on. She came back to the table very calm and fine, not upset about anything. She said that he just confirmed to her that he was allowing Elder Brinkerhoff to baptize them. Chee-hoo!! Oh my goodness, little heart attack. But President and Sister Dalton are coming, and so is our stake president. And our whole zone, and the ward.. I think we're going to have to meet in the chapel. :) Our ward has really stepped up and are doing fabulous fellowship. I think they are going to two thanksgiving dinners. (I think we're just dinner hopping too. It's going to be a crazy day.) Ahh! I love them so much! They are so prepared! I really feel like I haven't done anything, the spirit has just been working on them for a long time. And I am blessed to see the miracles! Also,, All 4 of them are on board, Nathan is getting baptized too. He was the one who was iffy, but we had an awesome lession with him and he's going to do it. Ahh, I stinkin love this!

Our Zone is on fire right now! Every month the goal is to hit the high water mark, ours is 18. And we've had 19 with date for a while, but we just found out that the zone leaders had two drop. They were so bummed, one said he felt like a girl just dumped him. So that makes us at 17.. WE NEED A MIRACLE! I am determined to get 18 baptisms! Sister Wright and I last night decided that we need to go and talk to Buddy, Alex Hackett ( the boy we pushed really hard last month) And talk one on one to him. Lots of fAaith.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Alrighty! Last week.. Was very humbling. Our numbers definitely did not show our work. But good things happened! Here's a little run down..

Monday:Pday! Bowling with the Elders! Awesome lesson with the Salimeda family on the word of wisdom and they are willing to change and keep it! Gah!

Tuesday:Did service hanging up pictures for an investigator. And tried to organize ourselves. Romney lost. :( I heard president was really stressed that night because of it. (I was thinking about you Mom.)

Wednesday: Bought the ZLs icecream because we lost in bowling.. I don't like talking about it. Cottage meeting at the mission president's home! Chris came! And Tai spoke! It was awesome!

Friday: Getting the Salimeda family OUT of there house so they wont drink: RS activity at a members, girls night karaoke. (No we did not participate)

Saturday: " " Volleyball night with the Salimeda family! Woo! They loved it and we had some ward member s there! It was super fun!

Sunday: Young women in charge of sacrement meeting and Tatiana Salimeda had a part! Chee-hoo! She did so good! Also Sue Salimeda got up in RS and announced her own baptism on thanksgiving and expressed how she needs the ward there because they don't have family here in Hawaii and they would love that support and how this ward is going to become their family.. When OWZA! I LOVE this family! Also on Sunday was transfer calls.

Transfer calls: Soo.. the call came at like 11:30 at night, our ZLs just sent a mass voicemail out to everyone. " So we have 4 elders leaving... Elder.. elder.. And one sister.. Sister Wright. Ok good night!" And I heard S. wrights heart just sink. And she started crying a little in bed. and then she got up to go into the bathroom. And the ZLs specifically call us. I answer and they say.. "Hey, how's sister wright?" "Well.. She's in the bathroom, I'm pretty sure she's crying.. " "FETCH MAN! It was ELder ODUME'S IDEA! It wasn't me! He made me do it! She's crying!? AHH! SHe's not leaving it was a joke!" . Haha they had a little freak out moment because they just made a sister cry. But now it's a big joke. But... Sister wright and I are both STAYING! :)

The Salimeda family: Ahhh i LOVE this family. They are so prepared! and I am SOO excited to see them baptized on thanksgiving! It's going to be a great day. I have learned so much from this family than they will have ever learned from me. I love they. They are so prepared and ready to take this step. The kids Tatiana and Nathan are a little hesitant about getting baptized. But last night Sue bore her testimony to Tata that she wanted her to do it, because she wants to get sealed in the temple next year as a family. Ahh! It was crazy, and Tata said that she does want to, but she doesn't want Nathan to feel left out. But her mom reassured her that Nathan can make his decisions, but that she really wanted Tata to get baptized. Ah! We didn't even have to say anything! I loooooove them! I love being a missionary!

I'm so glad you guys are all doin well! Thank you so much for supporting me here on a mission. I really could not be anywhere else or be doing anything better. I wish I could write more and tell you so much. Keep up the good work. Erin- I'm sorry about state champs.. Your the best soccer player in my book, and I brag about you all the time here to these elders. :) Cody.. Play basketball hard! I'm cheering for you an ocean away! And.. No dates until I come home, kapeesh? Summer, same to you! It's required as a nielsen to know how to shoot a basketball. Destroy PAL basketball. :) Carly- I love you so much! Keep smiling and being happy. I'll paint your fingernails in 15 months. Date! Adelaide- I looooooove you! And miss your craziness.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Ahhh! I stinkin love y'all so much! Thanks for keepin me updated on Tiff and Tuck's wedding! It really has been hard to miss it, but I'm glad I was a card board cut out! I wasn't sure if that was going to happen or not. I'm so happy they're married and happy. It so crazy to think that sometime today they are flying into HAWAII! Did they tell you that? They're coming on their honeymoon to oa'hu hawaii? And the basically landing right in my area? .. Kill me now! Ahh! But we'll now be able to write about the weather. :)

Ok.. This last week has been AWESOME! Tai got baptized!! BAAAAAH! Faafetai Tyrell is now a member of the church. :) It was the best and most exhausting day of my life! We had so many appts after.The night before the baptism Tai and his wife took S. Wright and I to dinner, and it was soo fun! He told us his name in Samoan and it was really long, but it mean "Thank you God for saving us both" (I guess his mom had some complications when he was born, and he wasn't suppose to live.) But he just goings by "Thank you" Faafetai! And even shortens that! It was so funny the way he said it. I love him so much! But after the baptism we saw Tai when we were driving and then stopped and talked to him for a bit, and he was just glowing! He looked soooo good! And soo happy! Ah! Next year this time him and his wife Eileen will be sealed in the Samoa temple. And I'm invited.. But.. I'll still be a missionary.. I'm so excited for them! At church yesterday he wore a 3 piece suit! And let me tell you what.. He looked DAng good! A white shirt and tie fits him well. :)

Sooo I don't think I've told you anything about T. About a week or two ago we were droppin off some of our fellowship from an appointment at.. 9:25pm (If you're teaching 9:30 is the curfew) and right in front of the house was this lady in an electric wheelchair and she was stuck trying to go up an onramp to get on the sidewalk. So sister wright jumps out of the car and we help her get on the sidewalk, she's paralized on one side and had trouble speaking. It's hard to understand her. She said that one night she'd gotten stuck there and was left there all night, and nobody would help her. Well with it being so late we were not going to just let her go home by herself. So we walked with her to her house and made sure she got home safe. We OYMed her and set up a time we could come see her again. We really felt like there was a reason we happen to be there to help her that night. We've dropped by a few times and have taught her a little bit. But she really wanted to come to church with us. So yesterday.. Haha let me tell you was an experience! The church is about.. a good 2 and a half miles away. And we told her we could come and walk with her to church. Well when we got to her house her dad told us she'd already left. So we were now driving the roads trying to find her. We found her and she had a van parked along side her. It was a busy highway and there wasn't a place on the side of the road to park, the van just had it's hazards on. So we pulled up behind and put ours on as well. Then a cop car pulls us behind us. The man in the van explained that she had gotten high centered on the sidewalk and he pulled over to help her and then she was weaving in and out and he just thought it was too dangerous to let her go by herself. The sidewalk was very narrow. Soo we explained that what was going on and that she was going to church just at the top of the hill. (probably about a quarter of a mile. ) We then had a to made a decision. The cop was not going to let us leave her and we couldn't just leave our car in the middle of the road basically. So Sister Wright stayed with T, and I drove by myself to the top of the hill trying to find a place to park but still be in sight of her. AHH! It was terrifying! So I drive away and the only place I could find a parking spot was the church. And then I quickly get out and run back to my companion! In my head I'm thinking.. "Great, here's some lone ranger without her companion and everyone in the ward is drving past going to church and going to think i'm an apostate missionary!" But it wasn't long untill I was back with Sister Wright and T. And the cop was following her to make sure they were safe too. It was a really busy road. Off and onramps to the freeway. Anyways.. It was CRAZY! But we all made it to church ok! And T came to church. :) I hope at that time it was more spirit of the law instead of letter of the law. Otherwise.. I'm a junk missionary. I drove away without my companion. Leaving her with a cop and a girl in a wheelchair.

Now you're probably wondering what about going home? .. Well, Tai is sooo GREAT! He came up to us and was asking, so he calls his nephew who brought his HUGE truck and then we helped T into his car and put her chair in the bed of the truck and all drove to T's house. What an adventure. T is also from american samoa, so when we got to her house Eileen talked to her family in Samoan and everyone. Oh how I wish I knew what they were saying! I wanna learn Samoan. But it was great to see how they both just jumped on the situation and helped us out! Oh what a Sunday. It is no longer a day of rest as a missionary.

Well.. Transfers are next week, and Sister Wright and I are PRAYING that we'll stay here and together. We have so many baptisms to see. The Salimedas have a date! Thanksgiving day! Sister Wright (and Cody's) Birthday! .. I just hope we're both here to see it. But God's will will happen.

I love you all! Keep being good! Send me pictures of me in the living room, I gotta see 6ft Sister Nielsen. :)

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Soo have officially survived my first tsumani! :) Don't you worry, I was all ready with my life jacket, flippers and snorkle. They provide that in our 72 hour kits here. ;)

Idk if you guys heard about it.. But it was crazy! Friday night we had a baptism for one of the elders in our zone and while they were standing in the font this really loud alarm goes off outside. They have this huge alarm system for isumani warnings and hurrianes. And that alarm alone will make you panic! But it was kind of exciting! Definitely a baptism I will never forget! We returned to our pad, and got news that we were on higher ground so we would be fine. But driving home, people were going crazy! So many people at gas stations and then hearing from members that people at the stores are just hording water and food and stuff. The tsumani hit around 10:30 so right when we were going to bed, and we found out the next morning it was only about a foot. It didn't do any damage. Which is definitely a blessing! But it just goes to show how prepared you need to be when those situations come!

Well.. This week was sooo good! we had 10 with member lessons! So we're keepin consistant! We have so many investigators and I just want to baptize them all! Especially since transfers in on the 14th of november. :/ I'm ready for change. But I just want to see them baptized first! We have a goal of 11 people baptized for November! Just in our area, but we have the names! So its going to happen!

Yesterday for Pday we had a "sisters day". It was super fun! All the sisters on O'ahu drove to La'ie and we had Barbara Barrington Jones speak to us in the VC. I stinkin love that woman, she's so inspiring. And then all had lunch in the stake center across the street. It was good to be with all the other sisters. I actually ran into a VC sister I went to EFY with in taylorsville! It was crazy! Who would've thought back then that we would both go on missions and be called to the same place! But I am really glad I'm not VC, I love being full pros. I get to be with the people.

This last week, I feel like we've been teaching a lot about the word of wisdom. To our investigators and recent converts. But it's amazing how the spirit works on people and they then have the desire to change. One of our investos-Kenny, is an alcoholic. We committed him to be baptized last week for November 24th, and when we taught him about the word of wisdom he told us he was already trying to stop drinking. BAh! He's already trying to stop! Because he knows that this is what he wants! Our recent convert-Mariko, she is also an alcoholic and she is trying to get into a rehab center, but she doesn't want to come to church until she is completely sober. We talked about how the atonement is the best recovery program there is. She hasn't been reading her scriptures or praying either. So we committed her to do those things and promised her she will recover if she builds her foundation on Jesus Christ. Gah! It was just a powerful lesson.

Dad I remember when you could come back from lessons with the Cabias(?) (that family from peru) and say, "The spirit was so strong you could cut it with a knife." I now understand what you mean. I get it! And I LOVE those lessons! They are SO powerful!

Ok so you are probably wondering about little Alex Hackett who we were hoping for a miracle baptism this last Saturday. Well.. His Dad freaked a bit, said he didn't care if they got baptized but he wouldn't go. And he also would've give a written permission. Soo.. We are just letting things cool. But Alex wrote him a cute letter about why he wanted to be baptized and taped it to his door. Gosh, these kids faith is so incredible to me. And then teaching Alex, he had so much more confidence than I have ever seen him before, with the thought of him getting baptized. He didn't care if his dad was there. He just wanted to be baptized, because he wanted the holy ghost. We'll definitely get him there this month. We are still prayin and I know it will happen.

Sooo Tai is getting baptized on SATURDAY!! Oh also.. I need to somehow get to American Samoa next November, I have a sealing I need to go to. Do you think you could call my mission president and pull some strings? ;) Because I'm invited! Ahh! I want to go sooo bad! I stinkin love Tai, he's kind of been my first everything in teaching the lessons, and he'll be my first baptism. He's so ready. He's going to be one of those solid converts! S. Wright and I are soo excited!

I'm sorry and sad to hear Elder Sanft got ETed. You guys don't talk much about his companion.. I take it Elder Sanft was the favorite missionary. Haha. That's awesome he was called to be a Zone Leader! He's a very young ZL too if he's only 8 months! I'm sure they are good hard working elders. Are you helping them with their investigators? HELP THEM! We can only do so much as missionaries. Get me his address, I'd like to write him about you guys. Ha!

Gosh I wish I could write so much more, I have so much to say! But just wait till I get home and then we'll just gather around for story time. :)

I love being a missionary and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for this wonderful opportunity!

I love you all! And I'm so glad Cody, Erin, and Dad got some bonding time on top of a mountain. ;) Adelaide, Carly, and Summer-I'm sure you both look smashing in your halloween costumes! Go get some candy for me tomorrow night k! Chelsea and Brian, I stinkin love your blog! You two are so cute. Mom and Dad, your thee best parents ever. I am so thankful to you both. :)

Have a wonderful week!

Love, S. Nielsen

P.S. Tell Tucker and Tiffani I love them! And take lots and lots of pictures for me!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Oh my heavens.. This weeks has been CRAZY!! It feels like a month! I seriously don't even know what to tell you because there is SO MUCH!

Ok. To start out, we had 11 with member lessons. 11!!! The most we've ever gotten is 6. The most lessons we've ever had in a week is 12. This week we had 18 lessons total. I was so physically and spiritually exhausted everynight. We also had 8 investigators at church!! 8! AHHHHH! It was so good.

Sister Wright and I have been praying to see a baptism this month. We thought it was going to be Alex (the runner) but now.. We know that it's probably Alex Hackett. He's 10 years old and in a part member family. He goes to church every week and wants to be baptized! Both him and his little sister Katie want to be baptized, but she's only 7. They need their dad's permission he wont let them get baptized till they are 12 or 13. He's athiest. We taught their family this week and Katie reads the book of mormon almost everyday. She told me that she prays that her dad will let her be baptized when she turns 8 every night! And that sometimes she'll leave her BOM in the kitchen or on the couch to see if maybe he'll read it. Talk about the faith of a 7 year old! Alex read the BOM too. They are such great kids and they hold there family together. Katie also invited her dad to the primary program this week. So sister wright and I were fasting that buddy would come to the primary program and his heart would be soften. On Friday, we went to a members home and Sister Hackett was there. She told us that Buddy has changed his mind, that they now just have to have an adult conversation about why they want to be baptized. Hallejuh! Miracle! So.. On sunday we pulled Alex out of primary for a little while and asked if he would like to be baptized on saturday. And talked to him about talking to his dad, kinda role play it out. He's gets really nervous and can't find words. The bishop gave him a blessing for courage and that his Dad's heart would be soften. We haven't heard anything yet. But S. Wright and I both fasted on Friday, she fasted on saturday and then I fasted on Sunday. (We didn't do that on purpose. But kind tag teamed fasting. haha) Gosh. I have never fasted so hard in my life! I want Alex to be baptized on Saturday SO bad! We haven't heard anything yet. But.. Ahh. Still hoping and praying.

I love you all and I will write more next week I promise! Sorry my time is about to expire! :(

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mom.. I loved your email, especially about the popcorn fire story! Its hard to not bust up laughing in a very quiet library when I'm imagining my family running around and you getting upset about your grass burning. Hahaha! Love it! My companion keeps looking over at me and asking, "what!?" :)

Adelaide is potty trained! That's so exciting! .. Nah, it's not a missionary term. I just think I'm funny sometimes. :) But they do refer to things as .. I was born in Aliamanu. And then my last area I will die there. Soo.. I'm just a baby missionary still!

Ok.. You guys keep talking about Elder Sanft, and I'm trying to figure out what ward he's in. But nobody seems to know him. Soo.. Ask him for me. And tell him I say hi and I like his hometown. :) And how long has he been out?

Soooo.. This week has been awesome! We've had choke good numbers! But the hardest thing is trying to get investigators to come to church! Gah! It's kind of frustrating, especially when they ask for a ride. So you find a memeber who is willing and then they don't answer their phone, you go to their apt and they aren't there.. Church is important people! But we'll get there. One step at a time. :)

For some reason also this week we've been runnin into and talking to alot of drunk people. They are very nice and friendly to us, but I don't think they really remember us when we go back and see them when they are sober. But in once incident, we contacted these guys and then there was one who wasn't drinking and just kinda sitting off to the side and made a comment about something like, "the bibles have been translated so many times, it's all changed and hard to know what to believe." Having this come out of his mouth was very shocking. He's 21, white, and just looks rough around the edges. After a while I started talking to him specifically and asked him what he believed and why and how he knew that. He said that he's read the bible 6 times! And that the concept of death just really interests him. He's experienced it at a very young age. But he's read all different versions of the bible. I then whipped out a book of mormon and asked if he's up for additional scripture. :) I explained to him the background and stuff and then he said himself. "So it's just adding to the bible." Halejuh! Yep! I asked him if he would read it and he said he sure would. He doesn't live in our area though, he lives over by ewa beach. So I got him information and asked if some missionaries in his area contacted him and taught him some things that we believe. He was all for it. This kid is SOLID! I was so dissappointed when he wasn't in our area. But we later found out that that was only the second time he'd come to hang out with those guys and that he doesn't make it around there very often at all. AH! Definitely NOT a coincidence.

So remember the Salimedas family? I love them. Soooo much! We taught them last monday and ahh everytime we go there I just leave soo grateful and I just LOVE them! Our plan was to teach the plan of salvation, but we get there and they've already been taught that. (Past missionaries) But we ended up having an awesome conversation about baptism. And.. I just love them! We ended with the Doctrine of Christ DVD. (Have the Elders shown you that yet? Please request it! It's SOOOO GOOOD! And we used it ALL Da time! ) It's about a family (Robles family, in San Diego) that was being taught by the missionaries ended up getting baptized and then a year later going through the temple. And it's powerful! But the Dad was so touched, and he was like.. "Thank you for showing us that, that really gives structure of what you guys do and how we can do that for our family." (Something like that) BAH! I want to see them baptized SOOOOO bad! They just need to come to church, and the mom needs to know for herself. She's kind of the one who's not helping the family progress. They'd be in the font by now if it wasn't for her. But I still love her!

This morning I was reading Alma 4 and 5, and it was crazy! I was having so many fast back of Elder Hollands talk from this last conference. They are sooo similar! I'm giving you homework to study both and tell me what you think. :) I wanna hear your insights.

I love ya'll! And I pray and hope you are doing well! Have a fabulous week!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

I'm so sorry my email last week didn't get to you! That's weird, I wrote one. And it looks like you're going to have two emails from me this week! Think of it as a blessing. :)

OH MY GOODNESSSSSSS!!!! General Conference was NUTS!! I was freaking out when Pres. Monson made the announcement about the missionary age changes. Flip, I'm going to be a Gma compared to the new missionaries that are gong to be coming! But I have never felt more excited and more confident that this is so right for this time! And S. Wright and I were talking later, this is a sign of the last days! We need more missionaries to penitrate the earth with this gospel. The entire conference I felt was a request for all worthy young people to serve. If you are able to serve-they want us. We are God's Army. This is a battle between good and evil. And if you really understand that battle we are facing everyday, you would have the desire to serve a mission. I am SO happy and blessed to be on a mission. I seriously love it. And I feel like I have already answered to the call. That is why I have made this choice, to be part of God's Army. And I get this wonderful opportunity! This is the Last Days. I really think the Savior is coming sooner than we all expect. Elder Holland said "This is the Lord hastening his work." Everyone will either be in the church or against it. The refiners fire is happening now.

Ahhh. I stink LOVE general conference. My favorite talks were difinitely Elder Hollands and Elder Uchtdorf. So incredible. I am still so pumped and just ready to go!

K. Well.. This week has seriously been SOOOO long. So many things have happen that it's just make everything seem like it happen in a months time! But it flew by and the same time. Idk, weird weird thing time is.

Soooo.. One of our investos.. Chris, his wife is a member and he has anxiety about church buildings. (I think I've talked about him before right?) Well.. He prayed! Ahh! It was so great! He's been very good and keeping committment and reading the BOM and I can definitely see a change in him. This week we taught him the Doctrine of Christ and asked him to say the closing prayer and he prayed! Ahh! One of the BEST moments ever as a missionary. He is on him way. We haven't asked him to come to church yet, we're working on just activities first. He has anxiety about church buildings, his whole life he's been taught that they are bad. We took him on a church tour and he said his heart was just racing the whole time. We'll get there. But it was just stinkin exciting!

Also.. We have another investo, Cara. She is 25 and living with her RM boyfriend. She's been taught all the lessons and knows everything is true. The first three weeks we'd teach things like.. How to prepare for General Conference, or share mormon messages. Just things that she hasn't probably heard before. But that's not focusing on our purpose much. So this last week we had a lesson about desires. We shared scriptures about Alma and they people at the waters of mormon and how there desire was to serve God and be baptized. We asked her if she even wanted to get baptized and she said Yes! We then asked is she wants to marry the John. They've been living together for 5 years. And again she said that yes that is something she wants to do. But John.. Is kinda a very lazy son of God. She's the one trying to drag him to go to church with her, and she's the one who remembers to read scriptures together. It's all her. He's holding her back. Her RM boyfriend is keeping her from getting baptized! (.. I though of him during Elder Hollands talk) But it was so good to hear from her of what's going on! We definitely had woman bonding, just able to get out all that fuzziness. We joked and asked if we could plan her wedding and she said. "oh that'd be so fun!" just gotta get John on board.

We had some training from our district leaders in our zone this week, and Elder Takahashi (he's a convert from Japan) did an incredible job! He talked about praying for "how to make things happen" not just set our goals. He said the example of our zone leaders last week of the month asking for a baptism. And then thinking that they are crazy. But then compared it to Nephi building a boat. He just asked how, how can something be done. It was really good! Us sisters call in miracles everynight that happen through the day to our zone through voicemail, and Elder Takahashi called us one day to report his miracle. He'd been fasting and praying that his investigator would be able to somehow find a way to come to church. And then.. She got fired from her job! So now she is able to come. "It was a miracle!" He said in broken english. Hahaha. Love it!

Also. Today I am with Sister Haupeakui!! We're on exchanges, Sister Wright has to go to ZLC since she's a sister trainer now. And Sister Haupeakui's companion is also a sister trainer. So.. We've had a great reunion today. :) I love this girl. We've just been talking story and reminiscing MTC all day!

Hey mom. Will you pretty please send me an absentee ballet so that I can vote? That would do me wonders!

I better get. But I love you all so much and I hope you have a fabulous week!! :)

My Dear Family, Aloha! I love reading your emails, it's always so fun to hear about little miss Adelaide and baptisms and the latest updates! I love Pday. Just for that reason.

This week has been good! We taught 8 lessons, and had an investigator at church! Remember Alex? The one we taught in the dug out? Well.. He came to church, and with fast and testimony meeting and all I was so nervous and worried about every person who got up to speak. But we have a really young ward, so the first.. 15 minutes consisted of kid after kid after kid. Bearing sweet sincere testimonies. Which was good. It was crazy.. That was probably the first REAL adult investo we've had at church. I think he felt a little overwhelmed afterwards, but.. Oh well this is our church! And this is how it goes!

Transfers are this week.. And it's CRAZY!! Everyone is so excited and there so much rumor flying around the mission. We had a missed call from President Dalton during church, he left a message for Sister Wright to call him back. Which got me suuuuuuuuuper anxious! All these crazy thoughts started running through my head.. "She can't leave! I'm still being trained.. We have so much work to do! I can't take over the area! We both have to see Tai get baptized! Ahhh!" But! She has been called to be a SISTER TRAINER! (Basically like a District Leader for sisters) She'll be soo great, that just goes to show how much of a baller missionary my companion is. :) She's nervous, but I have no worries that she's going to be GREAT!

We ate dinner at a members home last night and their daughter's name is Adeleah. She 3 too. With blonde curly hair, she's so stinkin cute. Just reminded me of Adelaide. She was fun.

We had a really sweet experience last.. Monday, after all our Pday activities. We went over to a former investo home. Salimedas, family of 4. 16 and 12 year old children. We just sat and talked, they told us about their past experiences with the missionaries, how they felt kind of pushed. But then we started talking about the Book of Mormon and asked if they'd read it. They read what the missionaries assigned them to read but that was about it. We showed here 3 Nephi where Christ visits and explained about what the BOM does and the background and then it just clicked in her head, and she then was like.. "This sounds a lot like Matthew.. Oh so this is just what other people have written about Christ, like the Bible." She said a lot more, but I'm just paraphrasing it. She then went and brought out this piece of paper, and let us read it. It was basically a prayer that she had written down, asking for the things they were struggling with. She closed the letter/prayer saying that she was His daughter this is her asking and knocking, that he now needs to answer. And then a day later we knocked on their door and asked when we could come by and see them. She said after they had stopped taking the lessons other elders would stop by and she wouldn't let them in. But when she saw sisters and it was right after she'd written that letter she thought this time it'd be different. BAH! It was just SO COOL! Heavenly Father knows exactly what he's doing. We're meeting with them again tonight, so hopefully it's just as successful. We have a lot of scheduled appts again for this upcoming week, I love it when that happens! Makes planning so much easier! The work is progressing! Ohh have I told you that Hawaii is one of the highest baptizing missions right now? Our mission is on FIRE! Every companionship prays everyday at 7:55 for vision 130. Basically so we can have 130 baptisms in a month. I think we've hit it the last 3 months. It used to be vision 100 when president Dalton first got here. Stinkin sweet!

Well I love you! And I miss you lots. I hope you have a fabulous week! .. Enjoy Conference at 9am. We have to get up and be at the stake center at 6am to watch it. But I'm super excited! Love, S. Nielsen P.S. The pictures I'm sending are of the hike we went on last PDay, (Socks and slippers are very acceptable here. EVERYONE does it.) and a Hawaiian Sunset :), the cockroach trap in our car. Yeah.. We've had a little problem. We've caught 9 now, and named them Korihor, Shiz, Amalikiah, Laban, Sherem.. And so forth. :) These are just baby cockroaches, I the one in our sink was a lot bigger!